Matt 4:12-25 Christ Will Shine His light on Men and Nations

God Call Us into His Presence for His Worship to Bless Us.

Our Call to Worship ( From the Psalms)

Our Call to Worship is from Psalm 150:1-2

SILENT PRAYER — Use these moments to prayerfully consider the Scripture meditation above, so you may properly give God the glory due to His name.

THE LORD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM

*God’s Word of Greeting

*Call to Worship……………...……………………………….…….Psalm 44:1–3 “O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.”

*Psalm of Praise…………..…..#42B As Pants the Deer for Flowing Streams

*Invocation

INVOCATION:

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL

Responsive Reading…………………………...Exodus 20:1-17, ESV p. 1049

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

*LET US PRAY

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

O most great, most just and gracious God,

You are the Holy One of love—the God of unbroken promises.

Throughout the Old Testament you promised to send the Messiah,

and in the New Testament the records have been made that he came,

that he died, and that he arose from the dead;

but now in language more clearly you have promised to send Him back to this world for His universal triumph.

That last long look of the apostles on the Mount of Olives was met by the assurance that He would come again and in like manner.

We confess that we were conceived in sin,

and are by nature children of wrath;

and have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

In our baptism you took us into the bond of the holy covenant,

but we did not remember our Creator in the days of our youth,

with the fear, and love, and obedience which we owed you.

We did not please and glorify you in all things, nor walk with you by faith in a heavenly conversation,

nor serve you fervently with all our might;

instead we fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the carnal mind.

We have neglected and abused your holy worship,

your holy name, and your holy day.

We have dishonoured our superiors, and neglected our inferiors.

We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbours, not loving them as ourselves,

nor doing to others as we would have them do to us;

we have not sought first your kingdom and righteousness and been content with our daily bread,

but have been careful and troubled about many things, neglecting the one thing necessary.

You have revealed your wonderful love to us in Christ,

and offered us pardon and salvation in him.

But we made light of it, and neglected so great a salvation,

and resisted your Spirit, Word and ministers,

and have not turned at your reproof.

We have run into temptations, and the sin which we should have hated,

we have committed in your sight, both secretly and openly,

ignorantly and carelessly, rashly and presumptuously,

against your precepts, your promises, and threats, your mercies and your judgments.

Our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us;

if you deal with us as we deserve, you will cast us away from your presence into hell,

where the worm never dies, and the fire is not quenched.

But in your mercy, your Son, and your promises is our hope.

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. Be reconciled to us, and let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all our sins.

Take us for your children, and give us the Spirit of your Son.

Sanctify us wholly, shed abroad your love in our hearts and cause us to love you with all our hearts.

Make your face to shine upon your servants;

save us from our sins, and from the wrath to come.

Make us a peculiar people to you, zealous of good works, so that we may please you,

and show forth your praise.

Help us to redeem the time, and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure.

Give us the things necessary for your service, and keep us from sinful discontent and cares.

let us consider what manner of persons we ought to be,

in all holy conversation and godliness.

Help us to watch against temptations, and resist and overcome the flesh, the devil, and the world.

And being delivered out of the hand of all our enemies, let us serve you without fear, in holiness and righteousness before you all the days of our life.

Guide us by your counsel, and afterward receive us into your glory, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour.

Amen.

Assurance of Pardon……………..……2 Cor 5:21

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

*Hymn of Thanksgiving ……....…#340 There is a Fountain Filled with Blood

Congregational Prayer

We make our prayers to you, O Lord God, most merciful Father,

for all people in general, that you will be known to be the Savior of all the world

by the redemption purchased by your only Son Jesus Christ;

for they have been held captive in darkness and ignorance for lack of the knowledge of the gospel.

We pray that through the preaching, and the clear light of your Holy Spirit,

That those who do not know you be brought into the right way of salvation, which is to know that you are only God,

and that he, whom you have sent, is Jesus Christ.

Likewise, we pray that they whom you have already endued with your grace,

and illuminated their hearts with the knowledge of your Word,

may continually increase in godliness, and be plenteously enriched with spiritual benefits;

so that we may altogether worship you, both with heart and mouth,

and render due honor and service unto Christ our Master, King, and Lawmaker

We Pray for the Members of Living Stone Fellowship

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen

THE LORD FEEDS US FROM HIS WORD

*Psalm of Preparation………………..…#62B For God Alone My Soul Awaits

Scripture Reading……...……………………...………..………2 Kings 15:1–38 “In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. And the Lord touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the household, governing the people of the land. Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place. In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah …”

Sermon Text…………………………………………………….Matthew 4:12–25

Matthew 4:12–25 (ESV)

HEAR NOW THE VERY WORD OF GOD

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16  the people dwelling in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Sermon…Christ Will Shine His Light on Men and Nations

HP Christ Will Shine His light on Men and Nations Matthew 4:12-25

So we begin this adventure of hearing how Christ is jumping off the page of SCRIPTURE AND CONTINUING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY.

UP IN TILL NOW in the Book of Matthew we have heard many important things that had to come to Pass if Christ was to truly be the Messiah that He and the Scripture proclaim him to be.

In Matt 1:1-25 We hear about the coming of the King who will Save His people

In Matt 2:1-23 we heard about The promised Messiah's incarnation being fulfilled.

In Matt 3:1-17 We heard about the promised Messiah's Ministry Begining.

And in Matt 4:1-11 we heard about Jesus's Battle in the Wilderness.

But Now in the second half of chapter 4 HP - Christ Will Shine His light on Men and Nations Matthew 4:12-25

And he will do this in three ways

Verses 12-17 - Christ shines His light by fulfilling prophesy and preaching about the coming kingdom.

Verses 18-22 Christ Shines his light on his disciples

Verses 23-25 Christ Shines His light by Proclaiming and Healing those ill and lost.

So lets now look at Verses 12-17

Verses 12-17 Christ shines His light by fulfilling prophesy and preaching about the coming kingdom.

Verses 12 -16 Is a demonstration of Christs active obediance.

Christ hears of John the Baptist being arrested and then he goes into Galilee

and then he leaves Nazareth and goes into Capernaum by the sea.

which is in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.

and Matthew even tells us what this is a fulfillment of.

Christ the long awaited Messiah is fulfilling a prophecy written by the Prophet Isaiah in chapter 8:22-9:1

Isaiah says

Isaiah 8:22–9:1 “And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness. But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.”

So you have Christ visiting all these prophesied lands.

And what does this prediction from Isaiah fill us in on?

That in former times he brought into contempt the land of Zebulon and Naphtali.

and when were these former times?

Are we told?

Or are we just left wondering?

Well we are actually told

We are told in the book of 2 Kings

which we read this morning but now Im going to focus in on verses 29-30

Yes in 2 Kings 15:29–30 “In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria. Then Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck him down and put him to death and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.”

So we find out that God through his providence let the people of Galilee and Naphtali be carried away captive into Assyria.

And why were they carried away?

We get that answer just two verses earlier in our passage in 2 Kings

2 Kings 15:27–28 “In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.”

So Israel was in Sin her leader was in Sin and so God punished Israel by giving them into the hands of the Assyrian's who were led by Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria.

but this is not the end of the story for the people of God because even though they were in darkness because of their sin.

and because of the sin of their leader Pekah.

God would not chastise the people forever.

Becasue of Christ in our passage today in Matthew

the people who were for a time dwelling in darkness.

have seen a great light,

and those who were dwelling in the region and the shadow of death,

on them a light has dawned.”

And this is what the knowledge of the Gospel and the light of Christ can do for a people who are dwelling in darkness.

Just as when you and I were dwelling in darkness

Or if our current nation is dwelling in darkness.

Christ has the power

Christ is the light

that can call a people who were once in darkness into his marvelous light.

And Christ does this with his words and with his actions.

Christ for a time chastised the people living in the land of Galilee, and the land of Naphtali

But now he is not only calling way ward Jews to himself.

But verse 15 states that Gentiles are dwelling in Galilee.

Christ is redeeming his people the Jews and the Gentiles.

Fulfilling what Paul speaks of in the book of Romans

Rom 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

So Christ is shining his light on these people.

He is fulfilling prophecy through his active obediance to the Word of God prophesied about him many years before.

And what does Christ do with a people after he calls them to himself.

He gives them direction.

he gives them marching orders.

He calls them to himself by his irresistible grace.

That is the light of the gospel.

Its irresistible the grace he pours out on the people in our texts hearts

And on our hearts.

And once he has done this his commands are not as burdensome as they once were.

And we are able to show the gratitude to our King for the great work he has done in our hearts and minds.

And Christ commands and enables us to follow his instruction in verse 17

Verse 17 says

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This is a similar message that the people recieved from John the Baptist.

We are to Repent to turn from our sins daily.

Turn from our sins and focus on the light which is Christ Jesus.

And the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Becasue the kingdom of heaven is being revealed to men.

We were once barred from coming towards that tree of life in the garden.

But now through Christ we can have life and joy and peace in the gospel.

But Christ doesn't stop there.

He continues his ministry

By gathering disciples to help spread this good news.

Becasue how did Christ choose to save men?

Thought the foolishness of preaching by his Word and spirit.

We are told that in the book of Romans chapter 10

Romans 10:14–15 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

And Christ Knew this and Christ is going to begin to build his Church in verses 18-22

He is about to start gathering his disciples.

So in verses 18-22

Verses 18-22 Christ Shines his light on his disciples

verses 18-22 we see more examples of Jesus shining his light on his disciples

Lets start at verse 18

English Standard Version (Chapter 4)

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”2

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Just as before Christ reveals himself by shining his light into mens hearts.

But we now see he has not only the power to cast a wide net and call nations to himself.

But now he can call individuals by name and they follow him.

He is still in Galilee

So Peter and Andrew are doing their work they are fisherman.

They are casting their nets into the sea.

And this is an example of the irresistible grace of Christ.

The Word who because flesh calls these men

And they leave their nets.

They leave their earthly jobs so to say.

Becasue Christ has called these men to be his disciples.

He has called them to a different work

He has called them to be proclaimers of the Gospel.

Those who would call all men everywhere to Repent and turn to the Gospel light.

And their not the only ones called we see in verse 21-22 that a couple of brothers James and John sons of Zebedee are mending their nets when they are called.

And what is their reaction.

what is their response.

They immediately left their boats.

They stopped mending the nets.

They left their earthly father Zebedee.

for what

why did they go.

Becasue these were vessels prepared by the father for Christ before the world began.

And this is the moment in history when Christ has chosen to call them out of Darkness.

Out from serving Satan.

Out from everlasting destruction and the pains of Hell.

And into Everlasting joy love peace which is found in Christ jesus.

They have been born again.

they were vessels of wrath.

but now they are vessels who have been redeemed.

And Christ did not just call these men to save them.

But he called them to be his apostles

those who would carry the message of the good news to other nations that have not yet heard of Christ

Nations likeGalilee, all the land of Naphtali,

These are the ones who Christ is going to call to begin the movement which in Christ time was called The Way.

Those who would be instruments to build Christs church in which the gates of hell will not prevail.

Those who would proclaim that this was the long awaited Messiah who would die for the sins of all his people.

This was the Messiah who has this irresistible grace.

This is the messiah who just fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah said regarding the Messiah bringing light to those in Naphtali and Galilee.

1000’s of years prior.

Our Scripture can be trusted and it always ties itself together

and fulfills all of Gods promises

And Christ is now going to expand this light to shine to other nations and cities in verses 23-25

And we see Jesus demonstrate to these men and to us exactly who he is in verses 23-25

Verses 23-25 Christ Shines His light by Proclaiming and Healing those who are ill and lost.

Starting at Verse 23

Matthew 4:23–25 “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”

Christ shined his light by going to their places of worship the synagogues.

Not only proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom Which would and can heal them of their spiritual sickness.

But he also demonstrated that he had the power of God in healing every disease and affliction among the people.

That is something only God can do or the power of God can do.

And so Christ is shining his light by proclaiming the truth of who he is and healing those that had diseases.

And what do you think the response would be?

I would think those healed would be instant converts if not devoted to following the man that just healed their diseases.

They had to be very grateful for their healing.

So everyone is talking about Jesus.

All the way to Syria

And what does christ do he heals not only the sick but he casts out demons.

People possessed with minions of Satan.

those who were possessed might be having seizures, that is those who have lost control of their bodies for periods of time.

Those with diseases like Parkinsons disease.

and paralytics, people who lost the use of their legs.

those who Lost the use of their arms.

Those that this world would say their is nothing more we can do for you.

Your just going to have to live this way.

But Christ would say Rise and walk.

those who maybe couldn't speak anymore because of being possessed by Demons.

Or they could only speak vile things the demons wanted them to do or say.

Its not something that happens or we see in our society as far as I am aware.

But maybe their are those today who do suffer from demon possession.

Their certainly are paralytics

and their are certainly those who have seizures.

Either way Christ had this power.

Who but God can command illness or demons to exit or stop afflicting our bodies.

And so Christ not only taught in the synagogue but taught and did many works outside the synagogue.

He truly was a Savior to all.

so much so that in verse 24 his fame spread to those in Syria

so much so that they are brining their afflicted people to him.

Those that had cancers, pains, issues of blood.

Hopefully their healings, led to that great question being answered.

Christ how can you heal me from the sin that has beset my life, my wife's life, my children's lives.

Becasue of this work and the great work that he would accomplish in his earthly ministry and then at the cross.

I can say

and you can say

and these men in Galaliee and Naphtalie could say.

Yes I struggle with sin

yes I am afflicted with sin

Yes I am paralysed by sin

But because of Christ finished work

Because of the work he was demonstrating to all these people in our text this morning including his disciples.

I will one day have my body fixed.

One day Our Spirits and bodies will no longer be weighed down with the sin that has plagued us since the garden.

But because of Christ finished work

The Day of Judgement will be a day of healing for those found in Christ.

Those who say that is my Messiah

He has called me to himself

And I love him

Becasue GOD has appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ,

to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.

This is a day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,

but also all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ,

And they will have to give an account of their thoughts,

Their words,

and their deeds,

and they will receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.

But to those who are in Christ

They will be both spiritually and physically healed

See if we die before Christ returns for the final judgement.

Our bodies after death will return to dust, and see corruption for a time,

But our souls, (will neither die nor sleep,)

Becasue Our souls have an immortal subsistence,

And when you die if your in Christ you immediately return to God who gave you your body.

You see the souls of the righteous,

All those who know Christ jesus.

Will be then made perfect in holiness,

will be received into the highest heavens,

where they will behold the face of God in light and glory,

Remember that light and Glory in our text that Christ was shining in Galalie.

But this will be a light that is not shaded by our sin darkened eyes brothers and sisters.

And one day we will have the full redemption of our bodies; and our souls

While the wicked are cast into hell,

where they will remain in torments and utter darkness,

reserved to the judgment of that great day.

The day when the Lord will return

The final judgement.

You see their is no Rapture

The scriptures don’t speak of a rapture.

The only two places for souls that are separated from their bodies,

Are in the presence of Christ in Heaven

Or are in the presence of Christ in Hell.

the scripture acknowledges no other place.

So yes thats right there is no rapture

The left behind books are a lie.

They are make believe.

Just as dispensationalism which promotes them is a lie.

So what is the point of Gods Judement

The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of all his elect,

Christ finished work on the cross and his sinless life really do save all his elect, all his sheep.

And what happens to those not found in Christ?

Justice is given and damnation is given to the reprobate,

who are wicked and disobedient.

But for Christs sheep

They will go into everlasting life,

and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord;

but the wicked, who know not God,

and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ,

They shall be cast into eternal torments,

and be punished with everlasting destruction

from the presence of the Lord,

and from the glory of his power.

So I hope you have seen brother and sisters how Christ did Shine His light on Men and Nations in or text this morning

He did it:

by fulfilling prophesy out of the book of Isaiah and preaching about the coming kingdom.

Christ Shined his light on his disciples by calling them to himself

and Christ Shined His light by Proclaiming and Healing those that were sick and lost.

Christ Shines his light by being and doing what he said he would do.

Redeem all those sheep who were once lost but promised to him before the foundation of the Earth.

And it is in Christ Jesus beloved whom we look to

who we long for.

who we will see one day.

when he says well done good and faithful servant enter into the rest of your Lord.

Let us go to the Lord in prayer.

Let us pray.

Father we thank you for this time to study and meditate on your Word

We ask that you would make this sermon meaningful in the minds of us your children.

Father we ask that we would be so on fire for you Lord that your Word and our time in it would be on our lips today

with our children and with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We ask for all this in Christs name Amen

*Hymn of Response………..…………#463 O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

*God’s Word of Blessing

*Closing Hymn………………………………………..…………..#567 Doxology